Manel, Matthews and Agostino Earn A-10 Menís Soccer Awards

Release: 10/07/2013

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – VCU’s Jose Manel has been named the Atlantic 10 Men’s Soccer Player of the Week, while Rhode Island’s Wesley Matthews and Fordham’s Jon Agostino shared Rookie of the Week honors. These student-athletes were recognized for matches played between Sept. 30 – Oct. 6.

Manel scored his first career game-winning goal when he found the net with five minutes to play in VCU’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over No. 22 Saint Louis on Sunday. The Barcelona, Spain native took a feed from sophomore Devon Fisher in the left side of the box, cut to his right and fired to the upper right corner from 15 yards away to put the Rams ahead. The two conference foes agreed to the match separate of their A-10 slate of games so the result will not count towards the league standings.

Matthews headed in a free kick by Ryan Oakley for the game-winning goal in URI’s only game of the week – a 2-0 victory at Sacred Heart on Saturday night. The defender from Mafikeng, South Africa also anchored Rhody’s back line, which allowed just two shots on goal all night – both of which came in the first half. The Rams’ defense also gave up just three corners as URI picked up its first shutout of the season. His tally, which came at the 79:00 mark, ended a 457:54 scoring drought which dated back to Sept. 8.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Agostino provided the lone goal in annual Battle of the Bronx between Fordham and Manhattan College. Agostino’s goal in the 55th minute was his team-leading second strike of the year and helped snap a five match losing skid for the Rams.